Böker Plus Exskelibur I & II

This time on Steal of the Week we’ve got the Exskelibur folding knife from Böker Plus. The Exskelibur design, from Fred Burger and Mike Skellern, proved to be a big success for Böker, which prompted them to begin releasing versions with different handle materials and blade steels.

The particular version we’re looking at today is a simple and elegant iteration with olive wood handle scales over attractive blue anodized stainless steel liners. Besides looking gorgeous, this combination of materials makes for an almost unbelievably light feeling in the hand. The overall hand feel is comfortable thanks to a solidly ergonomic shape, though you’re not going to get much grip beyond this jimping on the spine of the blade.

The pocket clip is also the blue anodized stainless steel, which nicely offsets the otherwise sparse appearance. The clip can be positioned for right side tip-up or tip-down carry, and holds confidently in the pocket. The smooth wood scales make for an extremely easy draw, enabling a lightning fast deployment.

This olive wood model is available in both the Exskelibur 1 or Exskelibur 2, which are functionally identical with the notable exception of their size. The blade on the Exskelibur 1 is a solid 3.5″ long, while the blade on the Exskelibur 2 is only 2.75″. Both are hollow-ground spear-points made from 440-C stainless steel, equally suited for slicing or piercing tasks.

Deployment is handled like a front flipper, with the thumb using the jimping on the spine to catch and open the blade. This action works smoothly on both models, but is easier to do quickly on the Exskelibur 1 thanks to the greater protrusion of the blade heel. The 1 can also be opened with just a quick flick of the wrist, which is not the case for its little brother. Both versions employ a liner lock to hold the blade securely in place.

All-in-all, these rustic olive wood variations on the classic Exskelibur design make for a smooth, streamlined gentleman’s folder with some serious class. To learn more about these knives, click here. To see our entire inventory, visit knifecenter.com